Six Senses is arguably, proportion-wise, the fastest-growing worthwhile (no, not using the word ‘luxury’ here) group in the industry. In Saudi Arabia, for instance, CEO has signed three definite projects. Confirmed openings are coming up in Europe in England and Italy, and now we can add Zimbabwe and Australia to the list. Rumours are continually surfacing about what other destinations realise they cannot do without a Six Senses.
Let us spend a little time in the Caribbean. Thomas Fehlbier, above, two days ago officially moved on from SIX SENSES SHAHARUT – he is shown in the lush gardens not of that magical resort but the Staff Village, 10 kms from the resort. The lucky team members have air-conditioned units, some of them two-floor mobile homes. They personalise their immediate surrounds, which are perfumed with lavender, mint and numerous other growing herbs: they have football and tennis, a pool and a recreation building with dining, networking and we-work areas (the entire campus is WiFi), and they can pool their two days off a week to have longer spells to visit their own families.
Thomas Fehlbier is taking his own family, wife Beatrice and her orange car, and their daughter, to Grenada. He will be, as of New Year, opening GM of SIX SENSES LA SAGESSE GRENADA, a multi-function concept being orchestrated by Range Developments, from Dubai: their projects already include PARK HYATT ST KITTS and Dominica’s CABRITS RESORT & SPA KEMPINSKI.
Six Senses is also going to the Bahamas. A 36-acre peninsula site, with 732 metres of beachfront, will become SIX SENSES GRAND BAHAMA, a resort village. Designed by Tom Kundig of Olson Kundig,20 branded residences will be complemented by structures designed by 3XN Architects, led by Kim Herforth Nielson, namely 45 standalone villas, canal and water-facing, and a boathouse and a marina. The project is being developed and financed by Marc Weller’s Weller Development Partners and by Pegasus Capital Advisors (founding CEO Craig Cogut), who used to own the Six Senses brand (they sold to IHG). There is also investment from the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (creating a resort with a hurricane-insulating coastline, while minimizing environmental impacts through self-sufficient energy and waste ambitions, will act as an exemplar for future sustainable tourism models on Grand Bahama and across the Caribbean).
Well, with all that surely Neil Jacobs has hiranges hands full? Let’s hear him here:
